June Messenger Update

So we've had the general Patreon update, how about a Messenger-specific update?

The public update is still in limbo. Partly because I waited too long for the Mob 3 audio to finally be available for pre-order (jfc it still isn't available) but also because I need to sort my shit out for the second half of the year again.

Before I jump into the meat of it, I do want to thank all the new fans and patrons who have come in thanks to Mob Sorcery. Maybe you're only here due to Mob, maybe you've read my other stuff and enjoy it - but it's been a noticeable shift. There's been a lot more energy on Patreon, and the success of Mob 3 and 4 has taken a lot of the immediate pressure off me (although I still want to keep up my current release pace, rather than slow down further).

With that said, I've ended up only working on Mob Sorcery since September last year. Around nine months straight. Not intentionally, or even to chase the success. Each time, it's been an attempt to finish off a story that just ran on longer than expected, as each book didn't end where I wanted it to, and the work involved in returning to my old series is big enough to push off a return to Mob by 6+ months.

It's also meant I haven't worked on anything new for 2+ years. Not since I first wrote Mob Sorcery, and was also fiddling with ideas for non-harem progfantasy series at the same time (when I was considering leaving harem entirely). I used to post new ideas here every so often (even if they didn't go anywhere) or at least work on them, but I got burned out in 2023 and didn't end up starting anything new.

Until now.

A Scifi Distraction

If you're on Discord, you've probably seen me talking about a sci-fi thing for the past week. I basically got an idea in my head recently (thanks to playing scifi games, especially Rogue Trader), came up with a setting, and then a hook, and I've started working on a new story idea.

To be clear, I don't know when (or if) this will actually become a full series. I also don't expect it to be a big hit. But a short break to rejuvenate from some creative burnout will actually help me finish Mob Sorcery 5 faster imo, and I'd like to explore the first new thing I've wanted to write in 2 years. Also, doing actual worldbuilding is fun.

It does throw a lot of stuff out of kilter, although I still plan to release Mob 5 at the end of July (as it's half done anyway).

The general hook of the scifi series is: (Mostly) normal human gets given control of a small slice of a galaxy controlled by female-heavy monstergirl races in a high-tech scifi setting. Minimal focus on humanity (I'm largely avoiding the typical scifi tropes pitting humanity against the aliens); cloning, cybernetics etc are big; massive ships; psychics provide FTL and are part of space combat; lots of hot floofers; plenty of justifications as to why there aren't many men.

The series is kind of a blend between Spellblade and Neural Wraith, to use a simple comparison. Somewhat harem-trash setting, with the heavy female-imbalance and humanoid alien races. Politics and manipulation, with the MC trying to maintain control of his newly gifted piece of the galaxy against everyone who wants it for themselves (he's not given it in tip-top shape, and he's being manipulated). He'll also have a bunch of loyal (female) subordinates. There'll also be lots of elements unique to the series, such as space battles and gathering a loyal crew.

If this interests you (or if it doesn't), I'll post the first 3-5 chapters within the next week (once I get beta feedback on them) to get a broader perspective on it. Again, I'm not expecting this to be a mega hit and it might not even be released until 2026. My current plan is to plan this to be a trilogy, and only expand it if it proves successful after three books (to avoid the Neural Wraith problem). I'm fortunately in the position where I can write fun stuff like this.

Other Plans

I want to finally take the chance to finish the Spellblade epilogue that's been hanging since January. That will hopefully be done next weekend.

Mob Sorcery 5 is still planned for late July. It's simply at the stage where it should be finished and released, to capitalize on momentum (as it could be ages before I come back to the series otherwise).

I'll see how I feel once Mob 5 is done. This impromptu break may have removed the need for another one after it's out, and I'll then jump into the next book. Demon's Throne is causing me general plot problems (the Labyrinth is an absolute pain in the ass, to be honest. But I'm considering throwing out my old plot ideas in favor of a huge escalation over the course of Book 4 for a big finale in 2026). I still want to get 2 more books out, including the finale to Neural Wraith. We'll see where the scifi series fits in, depending on the general reception to it.

Again, thanks for the support, especially as I've taken more time off in June than expected and then ended up working on something completely different. There's a good chance chapters won't resume as normal until July, for those only interested in Mob, particularly as I'll need beta input on them (and they might be rough after a month-long break from Mob).